1, 2. (a) N’cifukwa ciani nkhani ya ukapolo na ufulu inali mkamwa-mkamwa m’nthawi ya mtumwi Paulo? (b) Kodi Paulo anali kuuza anthu kuti ni kwa ndani kumene akanapeza ufulu weni-weni?

M’NTHAWI ya Akhristu oyambilila, anthu a mu Ufumu wa Roma anali kunyadila kuti anali odziŵa bwino za malamulo na cilungamo, ndiponso kuti anali na ufulu. Komabe, Ufumu wa Roma unakhala wamphamvu kwambili ndi waulemelelo cifukwa cogwilitsila nchito akapolo. Pa nthawi ina, pafupi-fupi munthu mmodzi pa anthu atatu alionse mu ufumuwo anali kapolo. Conco, n’zacidziŵikile kuti nkhani ya ukapolo na ufulu inali mkamwa-mkamwa pakati pa anthu wamba, kuphatikizapo Akhristu.

² Makalata a mtumwi Paulo amakamba zambili pa nkhani ya ufulu. Komabe, colinga ca utumiki wake sicinali cofuna kulimbikitsa anthu kusintha zinthu pa zandale ndi pa zacikhalidwe, olo kuti zimenezo n’zimene ambili pa nthawiyo anali kulakalaka. M’malo modalila atsogoleli aumunthu kapena mabungwe olimbikitsa ufulu, Paulo na Akhristu anzake anali kugwila mwakhama nchito yophunzitsa anthu uthenga wabwino wa Ufumu wa Mulungu. Anali kuwaphunzitsanso za nsembe ya dipo la Khristu Yesu, imene ili na phindu lalikulu ngako kwa anthu. Paulo anali kuuza  Akhristu anzake za Gwelo la ufulu weni-weni. Mwacitsanzo, m’kalata yake yaciŵili yopita kwa Akhristu a ku Korinto, iye anati: “Yehova ndiye Mzimu, ndipo pamene pali mzimu wa Yehova, pali ufulu.”—2 Akor. 3:17.

3, 4. (a) N’ciani cimene Paulo anakamba akalibe kunena mau a pa 2 Akorinto 3:17? (b) Tifunika kucita ciani kuti tikhale na ufulu wocokela kwa Yehova?

³ Kuciyambi kwa kalata yake yaciŵili yopita kwa Akorinto, Paulo anakamba za ulemelelo umene Mose anali nawo atatsika m’phili la Sinai pambuyo poonekela pamaso pa mngelo wa Yehova. Aisiraeli ataona Mose, anacita mantha, cakuti Mose anaphimba nkhope yake na nsalu. (Eks. 34:29, 30, 33; 2 Akor. 3:7, 13) Ndiyeno, Paulo anati: “Koma munthu akatembenukila kwa Yehova, cophimbaco cimacotsedwa.” (2 Akor. 3:16) Kodi pamenepa Paulo anali kutanthauza ciani?

⁴ Monga tinakambila m’nkhani yapita, ni Yehova yekha, Mlengi wa zinthu zonse, amene ali na ufulu wocita zilizonse—ufulu wopanda malile. Conco, m’pomveka kukamba kuti pamene pali Yehova, komanso “pamene pali mzimu wa Yehova,” pali ufulu. Komabe, kuti tikhale na ufulu umenewu na kupindula nawo, tifunika ‘kutembenukila kwa Yehova,’ kutanthauza kukhala naye paubwenzi wabwino. Aisiraeli m’cipululu sanayamikile zimene Yehova anali kuwacitila. Iwo anaumitsa mitima yawo na maganizo awo, ndipo ufulu umene anakhala nawo atatulutsiwa mu Iguputo, anali kungouseŵenzetsa pokhutilitsa zofuna zawo na zilakolako zawo.—Aheb. 3:8-10.

5. (a) Kodi mzimu wa Yehova ungatimasule ku ciani? (b) Tidziŵa bwanji kuti kukhala m’jele sikungalepheletse munthu kukhala na ufulu umene Yehova amapeleka? (c) Tidzakambilana mafunso ati?

⁵ Ufulu umene mzimu wa Yehova umabweletsa, ni wapamwamba ngako kuposa ufulu umene munthu amakhala nawo akamasulidwa mu ukapolo wakuthupi. Mosiyana kwambili na ufulu uliwonse wocokela kwa anthu, mzimu wa Yehova ungatimasule ku ukapolo wa ucimo na imfa, ndi ku ukapolo wa cipembedzo conama na miyambo yake. (Aroma 6:23; 8:2) Ndithudi! Uwu ni ufulu waukulu kwambili. Ndipo munthu angakhale na ufulu umenewu olo pamene ali m’jele. (Gen. 39:20-23) Citsanzo ni M’bale Harold King, amene anapika jele kwa zaka zambili cifukwa ca cikhulupililo cake. Mungatambe vidiyo yosimba za umoyo wake imene ili pa JW Broadcasting. (Pitani pa ZOCITIKA NA KUFUNSA MAFUNSO >KUPILILA ZIYESO.) Koma tifunika kukambilana mafunso aya: Tingaonetse bwanji kuti timayamikila ufulu umene tili nawo? Nanga ufulu umenewu tingauseŵenzetse bwanji mwanzelu?

6. Kodi Aisiraeli anaonetsa bwanji kuti sanayamikile ufulu umene Yehova anawapatsa?

⁶ Kuganizila phindu la mphatso yamtengo wapatali imene munthu watipatsa kumatisonkhezela kumuyamikila wopelekayo. Aisiraeli sanayamikile ufulu umene Yehova anawapatsa mwa kuwatulutsa mu ukapolo ku Iguputo. Miyezi yoŵelengeka pambuyo potulutsidwa mu ukapolo, iwo anayamba kulakalaka zakudya na zakumwa za ku Iguputo. Anayambanso kudandaula za cakudya cimene Yehova anali kuwapatsa, mpaka anafuna kubwelela ku Iguputo. Ganizani cabe, iwo anaona mankhaka, mavwembe, adyo, na anyezi kukhala zofunika ngako kuposa ufulu umene anapeza wolambila Mulungu woona, Yehova. N’zosadabwitsa kuti Yehova anawakwiyila kwambili. (Num. 11:5, 6, 10; 14:3, 4) Pamenepa pali phunzilo lalikulu kwa ise.

7. Kodi Paulo anaonetsa bwanji kuti zocita zake zinali zogwilizana ndi malangizo ake a pa 2 Akorinto 6:1? Nanga tingatengele bwanji citsanzo cake?

⁷ Mtumwi Paulo anatilangiza ise Akhristu  kuti tiyenela kupewa mzimu wosayamikila ufulu umene Yehova anatipatsa mokoma mtima kupitila mwa Mwana wake, Yesu Khristu. (Ŵelengani 2 Akorinto 6:1.) Kumbukilani mmene Paulo anavutikila na cikumbumtima na kupwetekedwa mtima cifukwa cokhala mu ukapolo wa ucimo na imfa. Komabe, iye anakamba kuti: “Mulungu [adzanipulumutsa] kudzela mwa Yesu Khristu Ambuye wathu.” N’cifukwa ciani anakamba mau amenewa? Polembela Akhristu anzake, iye anafotokoza cifukwa cake. Iye anati: “Pakuti cilamulo ca mzimu umene umapatsa moyo mwa Khristu Yesu cakumasulani ku cilamulo ca ucimo ndi ca imfa.” (Aroma 7:24, 25; 8:2) Mofanana ndi Paulo, na ise tiyenela kuyamikila kwambili kuti Yehova anatimasula ku ukapolo wa ucimo na imfa. Cifukwa ca dipo, timatumikila Mulungu tili na cikumbumtima coyela ndipo timapeza cimwemwe ceni-ceni pocita zimenezi.—Sal. 40:8.

8, 9. (a) Ni cenjezo lanji limene mtumwi Petulo anapeleka pa nkhani yoseŵenzetsa ufulu wathu? (b) N’zinthu ziti zimene ise tifunika kusamala nazo masiku ano?

⁸ Komabe, kuwonjezela pa kuyamikila ufulu wathu wamtengo wapatali umenewu, tiyenelanso kupewelatu kuuseŵenzetsa molakwika. Mtumwi Petulo anaticenjeza kuti sitiyenela kuona ufuluwu monga mwayi wokhutilitsila zilakolako zathu za thupi. (Ŵelengani 1 Petulo 2:16.) Kodi cenjezo limeneli silikukumbutsani mavuto amene Aisiraeli anakumana nawo m’cipululu? Ise tifunika kukhala osamala kwambili, mwina kuposanso Aisiraeli. M’dziko la Satanali muli zinthu zambili zokopa monga zovala, zakudya, zakumwa, zosangalatsa, na zina zambili. Ndipo nthawi zambili anthu otsatsa malonda amaseŵenzetsa anthu ooneka bwino pofuna kutisonkhezela kugula zinthu zimene n’zosafunika kweni-kweni mu umoyo wathu. Conco, n’zosavuta kukopeka na misampha imeneyi na kuyamba kuseŵenzetsa ufulu wathu molakwika.

⁹ Kutsatila malangizo a Petulo amenewa n’kofunikanso pa zosankha zofunika kwambili mu umoyo, monga zokhudza maphunzilo na nchito. Mwacitsanzo, masiku ano acicepele ku sukulu amatunthiwa kuti alimbikile kwambili maphunzilo awo kuti akakhale na mwayi wophunzila ku mayunivesiti apamwamba. Amalangizidwa kuti kucita maphunzilo apamwamba kumatsegula mwayi wokapeza nchito yabwino komanso ya malipilo oculuka. Ndipo nthawi zambili amawaonetsa nkhani zofalitsidwa zoonetsa kuti anthu ophunzila ku mayunivesiti aconco, amalandila ndalama zambili kuposa amene sanapite ku univesiti. Poona kuti cosankha cawo pa nkhaniyi cidzakhudza umoyo wawo wonse, acicepele ambili amakopeka na mfundo zimenezi. Kodi acicepelewo na makolo awo afunika kuganizila ciani popanga cosankha pa nkhaniyi?

10. Ni mfundo ziti zimene tiyenela kukumbukila pamene tipanga zosankha pa nkhani zaumwini?

¹⁰ Anthu ena angaganize kuti popeza nkhaniyi ni yaumwini, ali na ufulu wocita ciliconse cimene akonda, malinga ngati cikumbumtima cawo ciwalola. Mwina angaganizile mau amene Paulo anakamba kwa Akhristu a ku Korinto akuti: “N’cifukwa ciani ufulu wanga ukulamulidwa ndi cikumbumtima ca munthu wina?” (1 Akor. 10:29) N’zoona kuti tili na ufulu wodzisankhila pa nkhani monga za maphunzilo na nchito. Koma tizikumbukila kuti ufulu wathu uli na malile, ndipo zosankha zathu zonse zimakhala na zotulukapo zake. N’cifukwa cake Paulo asanakambe mau a pa 1 Akorinto 10:29, anati: “Zinthu zonse ndi zololeka, koma si zonse zimene zili zaphindu. Zinthu zonse ndi zololeka, koma si zonse zimene zili zolimbikitsa.” (1 Akor. 10:23) Izi zionetsa kuti pali zinthu zina zofunika kwambili zimene tiyenela kuziganizila  popanga zosankha zaumwini, m’malo mongoganizila zokonda zathu.

11. N’cifukwa ciani tinamasuliwa ku ukapolo wa ucimo na imfa?

¹¹ Pamene Petulo anali kupeleka cenjezo lakuti sitifunika kuseŵenzetsa ufulu wathu molakwika, anakambanso njila yabwino yoseŵenzetsela ufuluwu. Anakamba kuti tiyenela kuseŵenzetsa ufulu wathu “monga akapolo a Mulungu.” Conco, cifukwa cacikulu cimene Yehova, kupitila mwa Yesu, anatimasulila ku ukapolo wa cilamulo ca ucimo na imfa n’cakuti tidzipeleke kwa Mulungu “monga akapolo” ake.

12. N’citsanzo canji cimene Nowa na banja lake anapeleka?

¹² N’ciani cofunika kwambili cimene tiyenela kucita kuti tipewe kuseŵenzetsa molakwika ufulu wathu, na kuti tisakhalenso akapolo a zilakolako zathu kapena a zolinga zakuthupi? Tifunika kulimbikila kucita zinthu zauzimu. (Agal. 5:16) Mwacitsanzo, ganizilani za Nowa na banja lake. Iwo anali kukhala m’dziko lokonda ciwawa na ciwelewele. Koma anapewa kutengela zilakolako na zolinga za anthu amene anali kukhala nawo. N’ciani cinawathandiza? Anali kutangwanika na nchito imene Yehova anawapatsa, yomanga cingalawa, kusonkhanitsa zakudya zawo ndi za nyama, na kulalikila uthenga wocenjeza anthu. Baibo imati: “Nowa anacita zonse motsatila zimene Mulungu anamulamula. Anacitadi momwemo.” (Gen. 6:22) Mwa ici, Nowa na banja lake anapulumuka ciwonongeko ca dziko la pa nthawiyo.—Aheb. 11:7.

13. Ni nchito yanji imene Yesu anapatsiwa imene pambuyo pake anasiila otsatila ake?

¹³ Nanga Yehova watipatsa nchito yanji masiku yano? Monga otsatila a Yesu, timaidziŵa bwino nchito imene Mulungu watipatsa. (Ŵelengani Luka 4:18, 19.) Lelolino, anthu ambili akali ocititsidwa khungu na mulungu wa nthawi ino ndipo ni akapolo a cuma, cipembedzo conama, na cikhalidwe cawo. (2 Akor. 4:4) Conco, ni mwayi wathu kutengela citsanzo ca Yesu mwa kuthandiza  anthu kudziŵa Yehova, Mulungu waufulu, na kuyamba kumulambila. (Mat. 28:19, 20) Imeneyi si nchito yopepuka, ili na zovuta zambili. M’maiko ena, anthu ambili alibe cidwi, ndipo ena ni otsutsa. Conco, aliyense afunika kudzifunsa kuti: ‘Kodi ningaseŵenzetse ufulu wanga kuti niwonjezele zocita pocilikiza nchito ya Ufumu?’

14, 15. Kodi anthu a Yehova aonetsa bwanji kuti amaona nchito yolalikila kukhala yofunika? (Onani pikica kuciyambi.)

¹⁴ N’zolimbikitsa ngako kuti Akhristu ambili azindikila kuti nchito imeneyi ifunika kugwilidwa mwacangu, cakuti ena akukhala na umoyo wosalila zambili pofuna kuwonjezela zocita mu ulaliki. (1 Akor. 9:19, 23) Ena a iwo amatumikila m’magawo awo, ena anakukila kosoŵa. Malipoti aonetsa kuti m’zaka 5 zapitazi, ofalitsa oposa 250,000 pa dziko lonse anayamba upainiya wa nthawi zonse. Izi zacititsa kuti ciŵelengelo ca apainiya a nthawi zonse cionjezeke kupitilila pa 1,100,000. Ha! N’zokondweletsa cotani nanga kuona mmene abale na alongo akuseŵenzetsela mwanzelu ufulu wawo potumikila Yehova!—Sal. 110:3.

¹⁵ N’ciani cinawathandiza abale na alongo amenewa kuseŵenzetsa mwanzelu ufulu wawo? Ganizilani za m’bale John na mlongo Judith. Kwa zaka 30 zapitazi, iwo akhala akutumikila m’maiko osiyana-siyana. Iwo anakamba kuti pamene Sukulu ya Apainiya inayamba mu 1977, ofalitsa anali kulimbikitsiwa kukatumikila kosoŵa. M’bale John anakamba kuti pofuna kukwanilitsa colinga cimeneci, iye anasintha nchito kangapo konse kuti akhale na umoyo wosalila zambili. Ndiyeno, iwo anapita kukatumikila ku dziko lina. N’ciani cinawathandiza kugonjetsa zopinga monga nyengo yovuta, komanso kuphunzila citundu na cikhalidwe catsopano? Anali kupemphela kwa Yehova na kudalila thandizo lake. Kodi iwo anali kumvela bwanji m’zaka zimene anali kucita utumiki umenewo? M’bale John anati: “N’nali wotangwanika na nchito yabwino kwambili kuposa ina iliyonse imene n’nagwilako. N’nayamba kuona Yehova kukhala weni-weni, monga tate wakuthupi wacikondi. Apa m’pamene n’namvetsetsadi tanthauzo la Yakobo 4:8, imene imati: ‘Yandikilani Mulungu, ndipo iyenso adzakuyandikilani.’ N’nadziŵa kuti napeza cimene n’nali kufuna, cimene ni umoyo waphindu.”

16. Kodi Akhristu ena ambili aseŵenzetsa bwanji ufulu wawo mwanzelu?

¹⁶ Mosiyana ndi m’bale John na mlongo Judith, ena amakwanitsa kucita upainiya kwa nthawi yocepa cabe. Olo n’conco, m’maiko osiyana-siyana, ambili amadzipeleka kugwilako nchito zomanga malo olambilila. Mwacitsanzo, pomanga likulu lathu latsopano ku Warwick, mu mzinda wa New York, abale na alongo 27,000 anadzipeleka kuti athandize pa nchitoyo, ena kwa mawiki aŵili, caka kapena kuposelapo. Ambili mwa iwo anasiya zonse zimene anali kucita kuti akatumikile kumeneko. Ndithudi, iwo ni zitsanzo zabwino pa nkhani yoseŵenzetsa ufulu wathu potamanda na kulemekeza Mulungu wathu waufulu, Yehova.

17. Kodi anthu amene amaseŵenzetsa ufulu wawo mwanzelu ali na tsogolo lotani?

¹⁷ Timaona kuti ni mwayi kudziŵa Yehova komanso kukhala na ufulu umene kulambila koona kumabweletsa. Tiyeni tizionetsa kuti timayamikila ufulu umenewu mwa zosankha zimene timapanga. Ndipo tisataye mwayi woseŵenzetsa ufulu umene tili nawo potumikila Yehova mmene tingathele. Ndiponso tiyenela kupewa kuuseŵenzetsa molakwika. Tikamacita zimenezi, ndiye kuti tidzalandila madalitso amene Yehova adzapeleka pa nthawi ya kukwanilitsidwa kwa lonjezo lakuti: “Cilengedweco cidzamasulidwa ku ukapolo wa kuvunda n’kukhala ndi ufulu waulemelelo wa ana a Mulungu.”—Aroma 8:21.